The Makers of Canada: Champlain eBook

“And to tell the truth, so long as we have a
governor who is a friend of virtue, and so long as
we have free speech in the Church of God, the monster
of ambition will have no altar there.

“All the principal personages of our colony
honour religion; I say with joy and God’s blessing,
that those whom His goodness has given to command
over us, and those also who are coming to establish
themselves in these countries, enjoy, cherish, and
wish to follow the most sincere maxims of Christianity....
Justice reigns here, insolence is banished, and shamelessness
would not dare to raise its head.... It is very
important to introduce good laws and pious customs
in these early beginnings, for those who shall come
after us will walk in our footsteps, and will readily
conform to the example given them by us, whether tending
to virtue or vice.”

We could multiply evidence on this point. The
Jesuits always recall this good feature of the settlers,
their respect for their religion, its worship and
its ministers.

The author of the “Secret Life of Louis XV,”
says that New France owed its vigour to its first
settlers; their families had multiplied and formed
a people, healthy, strong, honourable, and attached
to good principles. Father Le Clercq, a Recollet,
the Venerable Mother de l’Incarnation, and many
others, seem to take pleasure in praising the virtues
of our first ancestors.

Champlain had begun his administration by establishing
order everywhere, and chiefly among the soldiers,
who easily understood military discipline, but the
religious code with more difficulty. Fort St.
Louis was like a school of religion and of every virtue.
They lived there as in a monastery. There was
a lecture during meals; in the morning they read history,
and at supper the lives of saints. After that
they said their prayers, and Champlain had introduced
the old French custom of ringing the church bells
three times a day, during the recitation of the Angelus.
At night, every one was invited to go to Champlain’s
room for the night’s prayer, said by Champlain
himself.

These good examples, given by Champlain, governor
of the country, were followed, and produced good fruits
of salvation among the whole population. The
blessing of God on the young colony was evident, and
when Champlain died, he had the consolation of leaving
after him a moral, honest and virtuous people.

CHAPTER XV

CONCLUSION

In the autumn of the year 1635, Champlain suffered
from a stroke of paralysis, which was considered very
severe from the commencement. However, hopes
were entertained for his recovery. The months
of October and November passed away, and still no
sign of improvement appeared. Champlain, therefore,
made his will, which he was able to sign plainly,
in the presence of some witnesses. Father Charles
Lalemant, the friend and confessor of Champlain, administered
to him the last rites of the church, and on the night
of December 25th, 1635, he passed away at Fort St.
Louis.